Saturday Seven! (Skin)

It's Saturday Seven!

SKIN by Kylie Scott is a post-apocalyptic romance that is hot, hot, hot! It tackles the controversial theme of forced seduction in a world that's been turned upside down and where the rules of convention have dramatically changed.

In this scene, Nick has taken Ros from the barricaded high school and is escorting her to the lodge he's converted to keep them safe from the zombies.  Ros is anxious as she doesn't know him from Adam and expects she's about to be raped.

Nick is keen to make her feel at home so they can get to know one another. He is also aware that Ros is rather naive of just how much the world has changed and is afraid she'll try to escape before she realises the dangers outside the walls of their new home...

Damn it, there was no reason why this couldn’t work, given a chance. He was a reasonable man with an offer to make. Besides, the world wasn’t exactly normal anymore and she had been set to starve inside those school walls. Either that or risk a trip into town and possible infection from a bite.
No. Not happening.
This was right for her. He’d be right for her. Those bastards had been wrong, making him leave Blackstone all those months back. He wasn’t one of the bad guys.
Eventually, she’d understand. He’d spoil her. Comfort her. Make life as easy for her as he could. Give her whatever the hell she wanted. If she’d just give him a chance.
“This way,” he said, ushering her towards the long wooden ramp leading up to the cabin.
“Mmhmm.” Her nod looked spring loaded like a bobble-headed doll.
Shit. What was she going to try? 

SKIN
Six months since the zombie plague struck, former librarian Roslyn Stewart has been holed up in a school with eight other survivors. But now the shelves in the school canteen are bare. The stranger at the gate has supplies that will ensure the group’s ongoing survival, but at a cost. He wants a woman.
Nick is a man with a plan. He’ll treat Roslyn like a Queen, devoting the rest of his life to protecting and providing for her. In exchange, of course, for sexual favours. It’s the deal of the century given the state of the world. But Roslyn doesn’t see it that way. The first chance she gets she attacks the ex-army man and attempts to escape, forcing Nick to contain her. And so begins his awkward courtship of the woman, with her chained to the bed for security reasons.
Chained like a dog and forced to spend her every waking moment with a creep, albeit a good looking one, Ros is determined to escape. When circumstances force them to band together against a common enemy their very survival depends on their ability to learn to trust each other. An uneasy partnership develops, but can a relationship with such a difficult beginning ever have a future?

Saturday Seven! (Flesh)

It's Saturday Seven!

FLESH by Kylie Scott is a post-apocalyptic erotic romance. Ali and Daniel have met and their relationship has progressed to intimacy but it's still in its infancy.

They've just come face to face with some Mad Max type bad-guys who tried to kill them and been rescued by Finn, an ex-policeman. They're now holed up in a safe place, hiding from them, but they all know their survival depends on trusting one another.

Finn is attracted to Ali, something Daniel is acutely aware of...

Finn chuckled, casting an eye over his sleeping beauty. His gaze glommed onto the side of her breast where it pressed against Daniel's chest.
After a hell of a long moment, wherein he was certain the guy had stopped breathing and quite possibly swallowed his own tongue, the kid's gaze shot back to Daniel's face. Hungry looking eyes turned guilty in an instant. "Shit.. Sorry, man."
"Don't worry about it. I know what it's like." Yeah, he knew what it was like. He still wanted to hit the pretty asshole, but he did know what it was like.
Therein lay the root of the problem.
Sharing was not in his nature, but nature would have to adapt. Ali needed this kid. Finn was a modern day gunslinger. Deep down he fucking hated it, but his girl needed this one nice and close. Preferably wrapped around her finger and deeply concerned about her health and happiness.
Every goddamned minute of every goddamned day would be best.
Daniel did not want to share her. Not with the kid, not with anyone, not even a little. He knew it would work, this insane idea of going halves, he just didn't want it to. He had only recently found her and she was his. But he couldn't keep her safe on his own, a fact that bit deep and hard and hung on as a pit bull would. How the hell to convince her? What Ali wanted and what would keep her safe and alive would likely be at odds in this case. She'd accused him of being pushy a time or two. His girl had no real idea how far he would go to protect her.

FLESH

Ali has been hiding in an attic since civilisation collapsed eight weeks ago.

When the plague hit, her neighbours turned into mindless, hungry, homicidal maniacs.
Daniel has been a loner his entire life. Then the world empties and he realises that being alone isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Finn is a former cop who is desperate for companionship, and willing to do anything it takes to protect the survivors around him.
When the three cross paths they band together; sparks fly, romance blooms in the wasteland and Ali, Daniel and Finn bend to their very human needs in the ruins of civilisation.
Lust, love and trust all come under fire in Flesh as the three battle to survive, hunted through the suburban wastelands.

Happy Release Day!

Happy Release Day to Kylie Scott - her second book, SKIN, hit virtual shelves today!

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak at this book about a month ago and what a pleasure it was to read it - phewwwww-eeeeee, I loved it as much as I loved FLESH!

Here's what I said about it:

Dark, intense and confronting, SKIN not only pushes the boundaries of her characters but readers as well. Scott took me on an emotional roller coaster ride that was sometimes confronting, most certainly thought-provoking, yet ultimately satisfying.

The action is fast-paced and gruesome, the romance compelling and intense. Nick and Rosalyn struggle and deal with the very realistic issues of loneliness and intimacy, redemption and survival in a world where the rules of civilisation no longer exist.

SKIN is a page-turner and you won't be able to put this book down.

Six months since the zombie plague struck, former librarian Roslyn Stewart has been holed up in a school with eight other survivors. But now the shelves in the school canteen are bare. The stranger at the gate has supplies that will ensure the group’s ongoing survival, but at a cost. He wants a woman.

Nick is a man with a plan. He’ll treat Roslyn like a Queen, devoting the rest of his life to protecting and providing for her. In exchange, of course, for sexual favours. It’s the deal of the century given the state of the world. But Roslyn doesn’t see it that way. The first chance she gets she attacks the ex-army man and attempts to escape, forcing Nick to contain her. And so begins his awkward courtship of the woman, with her chained to the bed for security reasons.

Chained like a dog and forced to spend her every waking moment with a creep, albeit a good looking one, Ros is determined to escape. When circumstances force them to band together against a common enemy their very survival depends on their ability to learn to trust each other. An uneasy partnership develops, but can a relationship with such a difficult beginning ever have a future?

The hotly anticipated sequel to Flesh, Skin is set in the same universe with a different set of characters.

 If this interests you then Kylie has a giveaway running over at My Book Chatter you might like to enter!

Or you could just go and buy it. :-)

Available from Momentum, Amazon US, and Amazon UK. 

 

Books Make Great Christmas Presents!

If you're a book lover like me, then you'll know the fun and joy of giving books as gifts to family and friends at Christmas time.

It's even better when you can share your favourite genre with them. And for me, that's paranormal romance!

Here are some books I've read this year that might make the perfect present for a friend or rello!

KISS OF STEEL - Bec McMaster

He craves her like no other…

Honoria Todd has no choice. Only in the dreaded Whitechapel district can she escape the long reach of the Duke of Vickers. But seeking refuge there will put her straight into the hands of Blade, legendary master of the rookeries. No one would dare cross him, but what price would he demand to keep her safe?
Ever since Vickers infected him with the craving, Blade has been quicker, stronger, almost immortal—and terrified of losing control of the monster within. Honoria could be his perfect revenge against the duke…or the salvation he never dared to dream of.

KISS OF SNOW - Nalini Singh
Since the moment of her defection from the PsyNet and into the SnowDancer wolf pack, Sienna Lauren has had one weakness. Hawke. Alpha and dangerous, he compels her to madness.
Hawke is used to walking alone, having lost the woman who would’ve been his mate long ago. But Sienna fascinates the primal heart of him, even as he tells himself she is far too young to handle the wild fury of the wolf.
Then Sienna changes the rules and suddenly, there is no more distance, only the most intimate of battles between two people who were never meant to meet. Yet as they strip away each other’s secrets in a storm of raw emotion, they must also ready themselves for a far more vicious fight…
A deadly enemy is out to destroy SnowDancer, striking at everything they hold dear, but it is Sienna’s darkest secret that may yet savage the pack that is her home…and the alpha who is its heartbeat…

THE DARK ROSE - Denise Rossetti
Duty and passion are a dangerous combination in the paranormal world of Denise Rossetti, author of The Flame and the Shadow, Thief of Light, and Lone Warrior…
Rosarina of the Garden is the most famed—and desired—courtesan of her time. She is also a spy, the heir-apparent of Caracole’s Spymaster, sent on a deadly mission to Green IV. She cannot afford to trust anyone, least of all a man with his own agenda—and the ability to crack her cool composure.
Technomage Quintus is on Green IV to repair the great Machine that keeps that planet habitable. He doesn’t expect to encounter the Dark Rose again, but he’s determined to make the most of it. She’ll be a most pleasing lover… once he convinces her to accept his offer.
But there is more in play on Green IV than either know. The Necromancer is waiting for the perfect moment to exact his revenge. If Rose and Quin cannot learn to trust each other then the Necromancer will rule—and even love won’t be enough to save them.

ARCHANGEL OF MERCY - Christina Ashcroft

Between an angel and a desperate woman comes salvation - and a raw passion that challenges them at every turn…

When Aurora Robinson attempts to open a rift between dimensions to embrace her true heritage, an arrogant Archangel is the only one who can save her from the jaws of hell. And while she owes Gabriel her life, she’s determined not to fall at his feet-despite the desire she feels whenever they’re together.

After his wings were brutally destroyed millennia ago, Gabriel has no compassion for humans like those who ruined him and betrayed the ones he loved. But when he inexplicably finds himself defying ancient protocols to rescue a woman from a fate worse than death, he is shocked by the searing attraction he feels for a mortal.

As the ancient forces that seek to punish Aurora for her actions close in, Gabriel offers the tempting woman protection at his private sanctuary. But as they both succumb to their desires, they discover an even deeper connection-one that threatens to consume them.

BLOOD KIN - M.J.Scott 
Imagine a city divided. A city where human and Fae magic rests uneasily next to the vampire Blood and the shapeshifting Beasts. A city where a fragile peace is brokered by a treaty that set the laws for all four races…a treaty that is faltering day by day. 
I didn’t plan on becoming a thief and a spy. But options are limited for the half-breed daughter of a Fae lord. My father abandoned me but at least I inherited some of his magic, and my skills with charms and glamours mean that few are as good at uncovering secrets others wish to hide. Right now the city has many secrets. And those who seek them pay so well… I never expected to stumble across a Templar Knight in my part of the city.
Guy DuCaine is sworn to duty and honor and loyalty—all the things I’m not. I may have aroused more than his suspicion but he belongs to the Order and the human world. So when treachery and violence spill threaten both our worlds, learning to trust each other might be the only thing that saves us.
But even if a spy and a holy knight can work together, finding the key to peace is never going to be easy…

FLESH - Kylie Scott

Ali has been hiding in an attic since civilisation collapsed eight weeks ago.

When the plague hit, her neighbours turned into mindless, hungry, homicidal maniacs.
Daniel has been a loner his entire life. Then the world empties and he realises that being alone isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Finn is a former cop who is desperate for companionship, and willing to do anything it takes to protect the survivors around him.
When the three cross paths they band together; sparks fly, romance blooms in the wasteland and Ali, Daniel and Finn bend to their very human needs in the ruins of civilisation.
Lust, love and trust all come under fire in Flesh as the three battle to survive, hunted through the suburban wastelands.

GUEST AUTHOR: Erica Hayes

How does this grab you?

Paranormal urban fantasy romance apocalypse. With zombies.

Sound like fun? I thought so too. 

You're in for a real treat today! Please welcome a good friend of mine, a fellow Aussie author and Berkley babe, Erica Hayes...

Thanks to Kylie for welcoming me to her blog! Seriously, never mind the guest blog, I'd come here just to look at her scrumptious cover art… I so want to be that lady on the front of ALLEGIANCE SWORN. She's totally bad-ass…

Anyway. Moving on… Greetings, world! I'm Erica Hayes, and I'm a paranormal romance author. Or maybe an urban fantasy author. What's in a genre, anyway? It's all in the same section of the bookstore, right?

But as a reader, I know there's nothing more disappointing – not to mention annoying – than when a book turns out to be different to what you expected. Even if the book is great, it can really ruin my enjoyment. I've had many a quiet rant on the subject. Why did they put that cover on it? I say, or That back cover copy is nothing to do with the story!

Some authors strike it lucky. Our good Kylie's books, for instance, are clearly fantasy romance, just from the covers alone. No deception there! We expect magic spells, other worlds, mystical mayhem—and she delivers.

So, in the interests of reader sanity (and public safety!) I wish to make the following announcement: this is my new book, REVELATION – and what you see is pretty much what you get.

Hot dude on the cover equals romance. Flaming sword equals paranormal. City lights in the background equals urban with lashings of dark. And the back cover copy pretty much nails it.

REVELATION
(Bk#1 The Seven Signs series)

A fallen angel with a mission and a medical examiner who’s lost her faith are fighting for their souls in a glittering, near-future Manhattan…

Blind faith is for fools. That’s what Dr. Morgan Sterling believes. And she’s going to prove it by curing the zombie plague ravaging her city’s slums. She’s certain it’s not a sign of the End of Days, but a nasty disease—until an angel appears in her morgue in a flash of glory.
Luniel is not just a fallen angel. He’s a powerful warrior sworn to fight evil in hopes of a chance at redemption. He’s after the demon princes who are stealing the seven vials of holy wrath which, when perverted, will unleash eternal hell on earth.
To stop the plague, Luniel needs Morgan’s help, and her faith. But Morgan believes science is their salvation. If the zombie plague is a demonic curse—and if Luniel is true—he’ll have to prove it. Even if he loses his heart to true love or his soul to Hell…

So go right ahead and expect a hot romance! Sexy, tormented fallen angel warrior meets… well, he meets the perfect woman for him. She just doesn't know it yet.

But the world of the Seven Signs is bigger than just Lune and Morgan. You'll meet other angels – Luniel's conniving archangel, Michael, for one, and some of Lune's Tainted buddies. You'll also meet the chilly Demon King, Azaroth, and a crafty pain demon called Zuul. If you're familiar with my Shadowfae books, you'll know I am putty – putty, I say! – in the paws of a sexy, scheming secondary character. Especially a villain!

So yeah. REVELATION is a dark paranormal urban fantasy romance apocalypse. With zombies. Just so you know.

P.S. You can read the first chapter at my website.
And do come chat with me on Facebook.

GUEST AUTHOR: Kylie Scott

Kylie Scott is a long time fan of erotic love stories and B-grade horror films. She demands a happy ending and if blood and carnage occur along the way then all the better. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one long-suffering husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

What genre do you write in and what drew you to it?
I write erotic romance set in gritty worlds. FLESH, my first book, is a post-zombie-apocalypse story. George A.Romero and Stephen King are primarily responsible for my fascination with the Undead and with the downfall of civilisation.

Romero’s zombie fFilms focus on life for survivors during and after an apocalypse. He shows the day to day life for these people and how they deal with the abrupt shift in what is normal. He likes to examine morality and justice once law and order are gone. That and carnage. He really likes to take a good long hard look at zombie chaos and carnage. 

What challenges did you face getting published?
I’ve been writing seriously for six years now. The first manuscript I ever finished I was convinced was gold. No, platinum. It would probably be published exactly as it was. Not a one of my perfect words touched or defamed.

Obviously, I had a lot to learn.

My first manuscript critique was devastating. I didn’t get past page 20 on anything I started for about a year. So learning to take criticism but to bounce back was a big hurdle for me.

There’s an art form to growing a thick skin but keeping an open mind. Feedback from competitions and critique partners is integral (and highly useful for dealing with eventual rejections from agents and publishers). But of course, not everyone knows best and not everyone is constructive. Deciding to work with mentor Louise Cusack really helped me.

Which authors inspire you in your own writing?
Stephen King is amazing. If you haven’t read his ‘On Writing’ then you’re just being silly. Go read it.

Romance wise there are many wonderful writers. Lorelei James has a great minimal style I adore. Lauren Dane and Cherise Sinclair do brilliant characterisation. Anna Campbell pretty much owns Deep Point of View. I could go on and on but I won’t. 

Title: FLESH.
Publisher: Momentum/Pan Macmillan.
Release Date: 1st October, 2012.
Hero bio: Daniel is a forty-year old loner. But when the world empties out he realises being alone isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Daniel is tall dark and handsome with a wicked sense of humour and no filter between his brain and his mouth whatsoever. Finn is the pretty-blonde-boy with intensity. He also happens to be hella good with a gun.

Finn is a twenty-six year old cop with protective instincts on over-drive. But what do Law and Order even mean in the new world?

Heroine bio:
Ali is a thirty-something year old shut in. Literally. Ever since the Zombie Plague struck fifty-three days ago she’s been living in her neighbour’s attic, sleeping with a shotgun, surviving off scraps and barely scraping by. A chance meeting with the too tall, too charming Daniel changes all that. He lures her out of her hidey-hole and the two take to the road, in search of somewhere better, away from the city and bulk of the infected.

Trust doesn’t come easy to Ali but Daniel isn’t the type to give up. And then she meets Finn. Nice normal girls with middle-class backgrounds don’t go for two men at once. But nice and normal are nothing like they used to be.

Interesting feature/s of this book:
FLESH is a mash up of erotic romance, action and horror. But it’s also my version of a study in survivalism. There are gruesome Zombies stumbling around but they’re not the only bad guys.

If there was nothing and no one to stop people from doing whatever they pleased, how would they behave? And what would happen when the lights went out? Supermarkets would be well raided so supplies wouldn’t be easy to come by. Medical staff would have been at the forefront of any outbreak so it’s unlikely there would be many Doctors left.

What would it be like if canned goods were your only real friend food wise, and getting an infection from a scratch could mean the difference between life and death? You’d have to imagine sex and relationships would certainly be cast in a whole new light with the downfall of everything you’ve ever known. Hope and trust would be a beautiful, wonderful and occasionally steamy thing (because repopulation matters, right?)...

There’s also a short story set in the same world featuring different characters available through Momentum 1st November as part of the Hot Down Under series. Yay!

FLESH
Ali has been hiding in an attic since civilisation collapsed eight weeks ago.

When the plague hit, her neighbours turned into mindless, hungry, homicidal maniacs.

Daniel has been a loner his entire life. Then the world empties and he realises that being alone isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Finn is a former cop who is desperate for companionship, and willing to do anything it takes to protect the survivors around him.

When the three cross paths they band together; sparks fly, romance blooms in the wasteland and Ali, Daniel and Finn bend to their very human needs in the ruins of civilisation.

Lust, love and trust all come under fire in Flesh as the three band together to survive, hunted through the suburban wastelands.

Five Minutes with Kylie Scott 
Fav.must-read author/s: Stephen King, Lorelei James, Lauren Dane, Roni Loren...
For relaxation you like to: Hang out with kids and partner. Stare at the TV with a cold drink in my hand. Hoola-Hoop. Guitar. Read and read and read.
Fav.colour: Dark blue.
Dream holiday destination: I’d love to go America. I haven’t been there yet.
Hunkiest Actor: This week, it’s Richard Armitage. (Subject to change without notice.)
You can find out more about Kylie on her website.

Happy Release Days!

October seems to be the month for awesome new releases.

Two friends (both Aussies) have their books coming out within a day of one another - and they're both on my TBR pile!!! Can't wait!

The first is debut author, Kylie Scott. Her post-apocalyptic erotic romance, FLESH, is out with Momentum October 1st (today, folks!).

You can catch her blog tour list here (and perhaps, if you're lucky, snaffle a giveaway copy of FLESH)!

FLESH 
Ali has been hiding in an attic since civilisation collapsed eight weeks ago. 
When the plague hit, her neighbours turned into mindless, hungry, homicidal maniacs.
Daniel has been a loner his entire life. Then the world empties and he realises that being alone isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Finn is a former cop who is desperate for companionship, and willing to do anything it takes to protect the survivors around him.
When the three cross paths they band together; sparks fly, romance blooms in the wasteland and Ali, Daniel and Finn bend to their very human needs in the ruins of civilisation. 
Lust, love and trust all come under fire in Flesh as the three battle to survive, hunted through the suburban wastelands.

The second friend is fellow Berkley babe, Erica Hayes. REVELATION, her dark apocalyptic/urban fantasy/paranormal romance, hits shelves tomorrow, October 2nd!

She's also on blog tour and has giveaways. You can find out where she's going to be here...

REVELATION  
A fallen angel with a mission and a medical examiner who's lost her faith are fighting for their souls in a glittering, near-future Manhattan... 
Blind faith is for fools. That's what Dr. Morgan Sterling believes. And she's going to prove it by curing the zombie plague ravaging her city's slums. She's certain it's not a sign of the End of Days, but a nasty disease—until an angel appears in her morgue in a flash of glory.
Luniel is not just a fallen angel. He's a powerful warrior sworn to fight evil in hopes of a chance at redemption. He's after the demon princes who are stealing the seven vials of holy wrath which, when perverted, will unleash eternal hell on earth. To stop the plague, Luniel needs Morgan's help, and her faith. But Morgan believes science is their salvation. If the zombie plague is a demonic curse—and if Luniel is true—he’ll have to prove it. Even if he loses his heart to true love or his soul to Hell...

Upcoming New Releases

This year is a busy one for debut Aussie authors, and I'm very excited because many of them are personal friends.

I'd like to share with you what's coming out later this year. I'm hankering to read them, so their release dates can't come fast enough. Watch out for them!

First, Bec McMaster and KISS OF STEEL (London Steampunk series)! It releases with Sourcebooks on September 1st 2012.

It's already garnering early rave reviews (you can check out some of them on Goodreads).

He craves her like no other…

Honoria Todd has no choice. Only in the dreaded Whitechapel district can she escape the long reach of the Duke of Vickers. But seeking refuge there will put her straight into the hands of Blade, legendary master of the rookeries. No one would dare cross him, but what price would he demand to keep her safe?
Ever since Vickers infected him with the craving, Blade has been quicker, stronger, almost immortal—and terrified of losing control of the monster within. Honoria could be his perfect revenge against the duke…or the salvation he never dared to dream of.

Next, Kylie Scott and FLESH, her post-apocalyptic, zombie infested romance (coming out October 1st 2012 with Momentum Books)!

Ali has been hiding in an attic since civilisation collapsed eight weeks ago.

When the plague hit, her neighbours turned into mindless, hungry, homicidal maniacs.

Daniel has been a loner his entire life. Then the world empties and he realises that being alone isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Finn is a former cop who is desperate for companionship, and willing to do anything it takes to protect the survivors around him.

When the three cross paths they band together; sparks fly, romance blooms in the wasteland and Ali, Daniel and Finn bend to their very human needs in the ruins of civilisation.

Lust, love and trust all come under fire in Flesh as the three band together to survive, hunted through the suburban wastelands.

Eleni Konstantine has a couple of releases coming up - some short stories and a novella!

ENCHANTED REALMS (Stormy Divide & Angel Eyes) comes out June 29th, 2012 from Musa Publishing.

ENCHANTED REALMS

STORMY DIVIDE
Thom may be used to the dangers of the forest, but nothing has prepared him for this. When he stumbles across a woman dressed in weird clothing lying on the ground during a storm, he has no choice but to help her. Ellie finds herself in another world, having travelled through time and space thanks to what Thom calls The Rifts. The question is whether she will ever be able to find her way back, or if she will be stuck in this new world forever. Or if she will even want to go home…
ANGEL EYES
Vera’s dreams are haunted each night by a man she only knows as Angel Eyes. He feels more real to her than anything else in her life, including her fiancé. Vera must try to forget her childish dreams of soul mates and happily ever after… but are they really only dreams or can she find a way to be with Angel Eyes forever?

Her novella GATEWAY TO HELL  is out on September 7th, 2012 from Musa Publishing. 

Mastering a unique power was much safer for Zeta Kosmos with a mentor to help her along. Now that he’s disappeared, Zeta must continue alone with her calling—closing Gateways to Hell.
Daniel Richards is in the family business—Warding supernatural evil from causing havoc on humans. As such, he’s only interested in the safety of one-night stands. Until Zeta. This bad boy now wants a long, lasting relationship.
But Zeta can’t let go of her past, nor can she ignore the secret demonic threats against Daniel’s life. She’d rather fight demonic spawn and be dragged into Hell than allow anything happen to him. Can Daniel convince her to stay? Will she have to pay the ultimate price?

Who knows, you may find a new to you author from this bunch!

Joss Ware's Envy Chronicles

Do you like post-apocalyptic romances?

Then check out Joss Ware's Envy Chronicles series...

Everything they knew is gone.
From the raging fires, five men emerge with extraordinary new powers. They are humankind's last hope ... but they cannot survive this dark, ravaged world alone...

Like that?

Still need convincing?

Have a gander at the two interviews I conducted with Joss here on the blog then. She gives the low down on the books and talks about the inspiration behind her series:

• GUEST AUTHOR: Joss Ware and

• GUEST AUTHOR: Joss Ware returns! 

If you enjoyed the interviews then here's some even better news.

Avon has ebook specials on the Envy Chronicles series (prices range from $1.99 to $4.99!!!

It's to help celebrate the upcoming release of NIGHT FORBIDDEN (July 31st).

BUT the special only runs until the end of the month!

So, look for:

• Beyond the Night (with Bonus Material) priced at $1.99
• Embrace the Night Eternal priced at $4.99
• Abandon the Night priced at $4.99
• Night Betrayed priced at $4.99

If you haven't discovered Joss Ware yet, then get over there and check out her books!!!

WARNING: The Envy Chronicles is an addictive series!

The Christmas Shopping List

There is nothing I like more than being let loose in a bookstore (virtual or real) and filling a bag with books to take home and read.

Christmas time is my excuse to hit bookstores with my gift list of family and friends to buy for and guaranteed I DON'T come out of a bookstore empty handed. I swear I must have been a librarian or literature professor in a former life.

Anyhow, if you're wondering what books to buy someone who loves the romance genres I can make some personal recommendations (just try and stop me! - heh, heh).

A lot of my recommendations belong under the paranromal romance umbrella, but I've thrown in a handful of other genres as well.

Paranormal Romance
Nalini Singh -  (NZ author) her Psy/Changeling. Once tasted you'll kill anyone who gets in your way to devour...umm, I mean, buying the rest.

 Larissa Ione - if you like alpha demons/slayers, end of the world plots and twisty storylines set in modern times, then try the Demonica series.

Mel Teshco - her Winged & Dangerous series is my favorite. I love that she's used gargoyle shapeshifters as her characters (makes a change from the vampires & werewolves).








Urban Fantasy
Nalini Singh - the Angel series. Refer to my comment above.










Fantasy Romance

Kylie Griffin - (Aussie author) totally bias here, I know :-). Demons, half-breed demons, humans, magic, political intrigue & secrets set in a fantasy style world.

M.J.Scott - (another Aussie author) SHADOW KIN has been nicknamed a gas-light romance. I recently read this book and loved the complex world-building, not to mention the characters.

Denise Rossetti - (Aussie author) - the Four-Sided Pentacle or Phoenix Rising series are both great reads. For anyone who loves alpha heroes and wonderful world-building.

Elizabeth Vaughan - the Warprize series. I don't know how many times I've read the first three in this series. I've worn out the spines and need to buy a new set.








Post-Apocalyptic Romance

Joss Ware - Some of you might know she's been a guest here on my blog a couple of times now as I've really taken a shine to her Envy Chronicles series.
Not only does she give readers a Mad-Max meets zombies style setting, there's romance, mystery and are plenty of pop-culture references to giggle over in these books.


Science Fiction Romance

Sara Creasy - Her Scarabaeus series. Solid, engrossing SF with an element of romance where her characters fight to survive with the odds well and truly stacked against them. Techies will love the flavor of her bio-cyph & terra-forming world-building.

Linnea Sinclair - any of her Dock Five series. For anyone who likes their SF and romance mixed.

Lauren Dane - the Federation or Phantom Corps series. They're SF with an erotic heat level (fan the face stuff).




Western Romance

Sarah McCarthy - I've just discovered her Hell's Eight series. Phew-ey!!! Texas Rangers, bonded through a bloody past, determined to carve their place out of the wilderness, who take on heroines as challenging as the land itself.
I love a good western but these are hot (aka erotic) as well.

Lorelei James - more cowboys, this time bull-riders & ranchers in the Blacktop Cowboys series. Again, the heat level is hot, so don't go reading them in a barn.






Romantic Suspense

Jo Davis - like firefighters? Then check out the Firefighters of Station Five. Stuff them into your stocking and be prepared for a hot Christmas.









Historical Romance

Anna Campbell - (Aussie author) Regency romance at its best.

Bronwen Evans - (NZ author) her debut Regency romance is nominated for a Romantic Times Awards.

Anne Gracie - (Aussie author) more Regency romance. Anne's humor makes me keep coming back for more.

REVIEW: Want to read a post-apocalyptic romance?

I've always been a sucker for post-apocalyptic stories. In fact instead of playing the usual games with friends as a kid, like 'cowboys and indians' or chasies, we'd roam the post-apocalyptic wasteland of our backyard and the banks of the local creek - goodies vs.baddies, of course - but we'd be fighting not only the villains but mutated animals and dodging 'hot-spots' affected by radiation.

So, to see such books now being published I'm devouring them as eagerly as I played those games as a kid.

The Dark Ages Dawning series, written by Ellen Connor (the writing duo of Ann Aguirre & Carrie Lofty) is a new series for me and one I'm thoroughly enjoying.

NIGHTFALL

Their instincts will save them.
Their passion will transform them.
Growing up with an unstable, often absent father who preached about the end of the world, Jenna never thought, in her wildest nightmares, that his predictions would come true. Or that he would have a plan in place to save her–one that includes the strong, stoic man who kidnaps and takes her to a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest.
The mysterious ex-Marine named Mason owes a life-debt to Jenna’s father. Skilled and steadfast, he’s ready for the Change, but Jenna proves tough to convince. Until the power grid collapses and the mutant dogs attack–vicious things that reek of nature gone wrong.
When five strangers appear, desperate to escape the bloodthirsty packs, Jenna defies her protector and rescues them. As technology fails and the old world falls away, Jenna changes too, forever altered by supernatural forces. To fight for their future, she and Mason must learn to trust their instinctive passion–a flame that will see them through the bitter winter, the endless nights, and the violence of a new Dark Age.

What do I love about this first book in the series? Where do I start? There's a lot I really liked about it. The world-building, the main characters, the secondary characters, the story arcs hinting at what's to come in the next two books in the series (which I'm now hanging out for, BTW!!!).

No spoilers given, I'll stick to generalisations, so you can safely read what I have to say next. :-)

The hero, John Mason, is a tough-as-nails ex-marine/survivalist who owes a life debt to the heroine's father. He honours a promise to keep Jenna Barclay safe after the world succumbs to a prophesied change. So from the outset the hero and heroine are on very uneasy footing and this is part of the whole fascination I have for the story.

I love the process of watching these two learning to trust each other, first through necessity and then because they recognise the attraction they have for one another. Neither accept it easily, even though you can feel the need they have for one another.

As a reader you want them to get together but the whole establishing a relationship and learning about them as individuals is a very satisfying experience. So you know they earn each others trust and respect through the journey by the time they do get together.

The prophesied change and world-building is riveting too. The old world and technology slowly disappears and the characters have to come to terms with that as well as the new world order of mutated animals and supernatural powers.

This isn't so fantastic that you know it's far-fetched or impossible, the exact opposite actually. There's enough realism woven into it that you think it could happen. It was done so well I was definitely able to suspend my disbelief and lose myself in the story rather than analyse it (as I would a writer reading another writer).

The secondary characters are great too and when I read the blurbs for the other books in the series I realised they get their own stories and because of the connection and empathy I had for them I immediately went out and pre-ordered them. LOL

So, if you're looking for a solid, satisfying post-apocalyptic adventure/romance with great characters and a strong storyline then get thee to a bookstore and buy this series. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Other books in this series:

MIDNIGHT
Their desire destroys her defenses.
Their love gives him a reason to live.
Three years of wandering the post-apocalyptic wasteland has stripped Dr. Chris Welsh of humanity and hope. He’s a dangerous man now, full of dark energy and yen for violence. A harrowing loss drove him from his home, and he hasn’t stopped moving since. Grim and sardonic, he never found anything worth sticking around for–until now.
Rosa Cortez runs Valle de Bravo, a haven of civilization amid the chaos of the Change. Soldiers take their orders directly from her–the iron hand within a velvet glove. The last thing she needs is a feral loner upsetting the town’s tentative balance. However, for the good of her people, she lets the sexy doctor stay. He evokes a delicious new longing, but she won’t submit to any man.
Tension rises as bloodthirsty raiders strike again and again, bent on possessing Valle and its resources. Together Chris and Rosa battle hellhounds and dust pirates while also fighting desperate attraction. To save them, love must overcome the pain of the past–and build a future in this brutal Dark Age…

DAYBREAK
Their mission was to save the world.
Their destiny is to fall in love.
It’s been twelve years since the Change, and Penelope Sheehan is one of the few still practicing magic for the good of humanity in this dark, dangerous world. Determined to infiltrate the notorious O’Malley organization, she poses as an abducted girl–until a furious lion thwarts her mission. When the beast turns into a devastatingly handsome man, she recognizes in him the troubled boy she once knew.
Since becoming a skinwalker, Tru Daugherty has allowed his animal nature to take over. Aloof and cynical, he takes no interest in making the world a better place. He’s a creature of instinct and impulse, living only to satisfy his senses–ignoring the scarred heart nobody has ever reached. He’s also the best man to help Pen bring down the O’Malley crime ring.
Fighting alongside the last holdouts of humanity, they unleash a passion that tempts them to risk everything for love. But if they succeed, Tru and Pen hold the power to brighten the Dark Age for all time.